Editorial: We recommend Abbott in GOP race for Texas governor

Attorney General Greg Abbott has run his campaign for governor as the presumptive Republican nominee, and it’s not hard to see why.

Once former state party chair Tom Pauken decided against a challenge, Abbott was the only Republican with anything resembling governing experience or, more importantly, enough money to run seriously, an amount now about $30 million. This newspaper agrees that his background and service make him the GOP’s best choice for November.

Still, his campaign has been safety first, since his early stumble in initially opposing the American Airlines-US Airways merger. He ignores his GOP primary opponents and steers carefully in the right lane, occasionally jabbing at presumptive Democratic nominee Wendy Davis.

Instead of responding to this newspaper’s invitation to interview alongside Lisa Fritsch, Miriam Martinez and Secede Kilgore, the Abbott campaign chose silence. This was doubly disappointing because one of those contenders actually had a message Abbott, 56, should hear.

Not Kilgore, 49, a one-note distraction on secession, or Martinez, who at 41 is well meaning but unseriously vague. Fritsch, however, offers fresh thoughts for a Republican candidate — and absorbing some of her energetic vision certainly couldn’t hurt the Abbott campaign.

Fritsch, 39, needs seasoning, undoubtedly the experience of lower-profile office, but she speaks with precision and passion about recasting the GOP as a true opportunity party built from conservative values, including the idea that helping the less fortunate lift themselves is fundamental.

As Abbott sharpens his message toward November, he should at least consider what someone like Fritsch has to say.

This is one in a series of 50 Dallas Morning News candidate recommendations in the upcoming primary elections.

Early voting starts: Feb. 18.

Early voting ends: Feb. 28

Election Day: March 4

For more information:

Texas Democratic Party and candidates: txdemocrats.org

Texas Republican Party and candidates: texasgop.org

Collin County elections: 1-800-687-8546 or co.collin.tx.us/elections

Dallas County elections: 214-819-6300 or dallascountyvotes.org

Denton County elections: 940-349-3200 or votedenton.com

Tarrant County elections: 817-831-8683 or tarrantcounty.com/eVote

For more help, including how to check your registration status, contact the Texas secretary of state at 1-800-252-8683 or visit votetexas.gov.

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